Draping machine



Feb. 1l, 1936. E. H. CLARK DRAPING MACHINE Filed Deo. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIGS.

NVENTR.

EDWARD hf CLARK @BY/' ,4 I .n AT l' EYES'.

E. H. CLARK DRAPING MACHINE 'Ff-,1). 11, 1936.Y

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 9, 192,9

Ullllilll Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES DRAPIN G MACHINE Edward H. Clark, Reading, Mass., assigner, by mesne assignments, to United States Rubber Company, New York,` N. Y., a corporation of New VJersey Application December 9, 1929, Serial No. 412,703

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for forming drapes in material of sheet form.

In the formation of drapes in sheet material which is continuously advancing, it is necessary for the successful operation of a draping machine that the materialY being draped be prevented from slipping during the formation of the drapes in order that the drapes be of equal length and that 'previously formed drapes not be destroyed during @the `formation of succeeding drapes. Draping machines of known construction provide friction devices such as cooperating rollers acting on the surface of the material toprevent slipping of the material during `V.drape formation. Such machines operate satisfactorily where `the material to be draped is comparatively heavy andwhere marring of the surface of the material is not a hazard. Such machines are limited to use with material of a certain weight and having a certain type of finish. When materials of lighter weights or having a different finish are to be draped, such machines are not applicable inasmuch as they do not prevent slipping during drape formation.

It is the object of this invention to provide a draping machine in which the material to be draped is uniformly draped without the application to the surface of the material of a pressure destructive to the surface characteristics ofthe material. It is also an object of this invention to provide a Vdraping machine which will drape materials of any weight and having any surface characteristics. Another object of this invention is to provide a draping machine which forms drapes of substantially constant length in materials of variable Weight and variable surface characteristics. It is also the object of this invention to provide a novel means for holding the material to be draped to prevent slippage during drape formation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of the essential parts of the machine of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional detail View of the feeding roller;

Fig. 4 is a detail cross sectional view of the feeding roller; and

Fig. 5 is a detail View in perspective showing the relation between the take-up .members and the suction drum. Y

The material I to be draped is advanced 4by a roller 2 provided with orices 3 and passages 4 by which suction may be applied to the material being advanced so that slippage between the material and the roller 2 does not occur. The passages 4 are connected toa source of reduced pressure through orifices 5 formed in the end of the roller 2 and which cooperate with the passage 6 in shoe 1 arranged to rest upon the face of the end portion of the roller 2 in fluid tight relation. The shoe 'I is pressed in fluid tight relation against the face of the roller 2 by spring 8 cooperating with bracket 9 carried by the frame I0 of the machine. Pipe connection II leads toar source of reduced pressure and connects with the passage 6. The suction applied, through the passages described, to the material being advanced is suflicient to secure the material from slipping relative to the roller. Under most circumstances the suction holds the'material against slipping and Without damaging the surface of the material. However, a card of wire cloth may be provided on the surface of the roller 2 which frictionally engages the underneath surface of the material to be advanced. Such card cloth prevents distortion of the material and enables the machine to handle any type of material. Where the card cloth I2 is employed, a stripping off bar I3 is fixed to the frame of the machine adjacent the roller 2 and serves to separatetne advancing material therefrom. Where jthe 'card cloth is not employed on the surface of the roller 2 the stripping olf bar I3 may be dispensed with inasmuch as suction is applied through one only of the fluid conducting passages ofthe roller 2 at a time because of the arrangement of the shoe I and passage 6 which connects Aa source of reduced pressure with one slot only of the roller 2 at a time. In addition the arrangement of the passage 6 and shoe I whereby only one passage of the roller 2 at a time is connected with the source of reduced pressure, a Vconsiderable saving in evacuating power is effected.

The material, as it leaves the roller 2 or the stripping off bar I3, passes to the take-up members I4 which conveniently take the form of tubes mounted upon chains I5 and forming with that chaina conveyor for advancing the formed drapes I6. The take-up members I4 are arranged transversely of the advancing material I as shown in Fig, 2 and as the take-up members p I4 advance they take up vthe advancing material l to form a drape therein. In order to prevent slipping of the material I relative to the take-up members I4 during drape formation, the members I4 are provided with slots I1 in their surfaces through which suction may be applied to the advancing material I and hold the material against slipping relative thereto. The slots I1 lead to the passages I8 in the hollow tubes I4. The ends IS (see Figs. 1 and 5) of the tubular take-up members I4are provided with apertures 2@ (see Fig..5) arranged to cooperate with the apertures 2I 'formed at the bottom of Vthe recesses 22 in the face 23 of the drum 24. As the take-up members I4 move into drape forming position with respect to the advancing material I the ends I9 of the take-up members I4 iit into the recesses 22 of the drum 23 and theape'rtures Y shoe 21 and the frame IU of the machine. The

shoe is mounted for sliding movement upon the Vshaft 29 by means ofthe coupling 30 and is held against rotation by the pipe connection 3I slidable through the aperture 32 in the frame of the .machine The shoe 21 is hollow and connected with a source of evacuating means by means of the pipe 3|. Through the shoe 21 the passages 25 and I8 are evacuated when the take up members I4 are in draping position thereby applying suction to the material during drape formation so as to prevent slipping of the material relative'to the take-up members. As is clear from Fig. l only one passage 25 of the drum 23 and the passage I8 of the' corresponding take-up member I4 is evacuatedat a time thereby preventing the loss of suction by virtue of air entering through the other apertures ZI of the drum 24.

The roller 2 Vthe drum 24,7and the conveyor I5 are driven synchronously from any suitable source of power as by a chain'and sprocket mechanism as indicated in dotted lines: in Fig. 2, the drum 24 being mounted for rotation upon shaft 29, and the roller 2 being mounted for. rotation upon the shaft 33, both of which are journaled in the frame of the machine.

The draping machine hereinabove described is conveniently positioned within a chamber 34 havin-g an opening 35 through which the material I advances. The chamber 34 may be a vul- While certain Vdetail structures for carrying out theinvention have been described by way of illustration, the invention is not so limited inasmuch as the details of construction may be modied so long as means are provided for holding the advancing material against slipping during drape formation without damaging the surface ofthe material and acting upon the material in a manner independent of the weight and surface characteristics of the material. Many other variations in the, details of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A draping machinehaving in combination, means for conveying the drapes, means for supplying the material to be draped to the lirst mentioned means, and means for applying suction at the points where the material contacts against the conveying means to prevent slipping of the material relative to the conveying means during formation of the drape.

2. `A draping machine having in combination, means for conveying the drapes, and drape forming means including suction means for holding the draped material against slipping, said suction means acting directly at the points of contact between said'materialand said conveying means.

3. A drapng machine having in combination, means for advancing formed drapes, drape forming means including suction means acting directly at the points of contact between the draped material and the advancing means formaintaining the last formed drape during the formation of a succeeding drape.

4. A draping machine having in combination, suction meansV for advancing the material to be draped, means to take up the advancingmate'- rial in the formV of drapes, the last mentioned means having suctionemeans acting directly at the points of frictional contact between the material and the take-up means for Aholding the material during drape formation. n y Y 5. A draping machine comprising inV combination arrollerffor advancing the material to be draped, a conveyor for advancing the drapes, and

means directly associated with said roller and conveyor iorexerting a suction on the material.

6. A draping machine having in combination, means for advancing the material to be draped, a conveyor having members to take up the advancing material Vin draped form, means for moving the conveyor, said members and said advancing means having fluid conducting passages therein arranged to communicate directly against the material during drape formation, and means Y for evacuating said passage.

7. A draping machine having in combination, means for advancing the material to be draped, means for advancing the material in drape form, the second mentioned means having members to taker up the advancing material in draped form, a device, said members and device having fluid conducting passages arranged to cooperate and form a continuous suction applying passage for holding the material during drape formation, and means for evacuating said iiuid passages. j

8. A draping machine having in combination, suction means for advancing the material to be draped, means for advancing the material in draped form, the second mentioned means having members to takeV up the advancing material in draped form, a device, said members and device having :fluid conducting passages arranged to cooperate and form a continuous suction applying passage for holding thematerial during drape formation, and means for evacuatingY said fluid passages Y A 9. In a draping machine means for feeding material to be draped, a conveyor having hollow crossbars for supporting draped material, said crossbars having surface openings for applying a vacuum to draped material, and means for'applying a condition of vacuum tothe crossbars.

10. In a draping machine means for feeding material to be draped, a conveyor having hollow crossbars for supporting draped material, said crossbars having surface openings for applying a vacuum to draped material, and means for applying a condition of vacuum to successive crossbars.

11. A draping machine comprising the combination of means for feeding material and means for draping the same, said draping means having bars provided with curved outer surfaces having openings therein for applying a vacuum to the draped material adapted to cover said openings.

12. A draping machine having in combination, a roller for advancing the material to be draped,

said roller having uid conducting passages through which suction is applied to hold the material from slipping, a conveyor for advancing the drapes, saidco'nveyor having tubular members extending transversely oi the advancing material for taking up thejadvancing material in draped form, means for driving the conveyor, a drum rotatable in unison with the conveyor, said drum and said tubular members having fluid conducting passages arranged to form a continuous passage for the application of suction to the material during drape formation only, and means for evacuating the iiuid passages.

' EDWARD H. CLARK. 

